The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has Friday met with media executives to discuss the Commission’s plan to scale up the number of polling units in the country as a way of overcoming some of the challenges being faced by voters in the process of exercising their franchise.
It will be recalled that the Commission had recently held similar meetings with other stakeholders such as political parties, the Security personnel and the Civil Society Organisations.
The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, emphasised that it is impossible to exercise voting rights in the absence of voting place.
The Commission’s stand is hinged on the observed inadequacy which arose from a number of factors such as distance to existing polling unit, Difficult terrain, Urbanisation, Creation of new Settlements and Increase in Voting Population. These factors have invariably contributed to the poor voter turnout in recent elections.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman underlined the importance of its strategic partnership with the media.
“The media remain critical partners to the commission. We accreditation the media routinely to cover our activities”.
Harping on the need for the increase in number of polling units, Prof. Yakubu said, “This matter is at the heart of electoral democracy. Every eligible voter has the right to register and to vote in democratic elections.
“However, the right to vote cannot be effectively exercised without a place to vote.”
Responding, Mr. Bodunrin Adebayo, a veteran journalist , said the initiative is a welcome development and enjoined all stakeholders to support the commission in order to achieve success. The Commission has, so far, not made known the specific locations of the new proposed polling units.
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